Know What Your Photograph Needs.
You can know your camera and still be unsure what to change when a photograph is not working.
Subject → Light → Composition → Settings → Edit
Start with the free 14 day photography series. One short lesson a day, with something to try on your own photographs.
Start the free 14 day series
You Probably Don’t Need More Photography Information.
You can find a tutorial for almost any setting or technique. That doesn’t always help when you are standing in front of a scene and cannot work out why the photograph feels wrong.
That is what I teach: how to look at the photograph, decide what needs attention and use what you already know.
The Five Decisions
I use these five questions to plan a photograph and to work out why a result did or did not come together.
What is the photograph about?
What is the light doing to it?
Where should the viewer look?
Which choices support your intention?
What should the finished image become?
The camera gives you options. You still have to decide what the photograph needs.
Photographs I have worked through
The Grand Pier is one example. These two landscapes called for different decisions.
About the photographer
I’m Joshua Ball. I studied Editorial & Advertising Photography at the University of Gloucestershire and photograph landscapes, cars and aerial subjects. The photographs here are my own. I teach the choices behind them so you can work through your own scenes rather than copy my settings.
Where should you start?
New here? Start with the free series. If you have worked through the lessons and want to learn the full process, explore the Method. Before The Shot is the iPhone tool for putting it into practice.
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14 Day Photography Series
One short email a day for 14 days. Use the lessons to start looking at your photographs differently.
Start the free seriesLearn the system
The Photographer’s Method
Learn how the five decisions work together, with photographic examples and resources for planning, shooting and reviewing your own work.
Explore the MethodApply the system
Before The Shot
Keep your shoot decisions in one place on your iPhone. Plan the photograph you want to make, then review the result. Included with the Method, or £7 on its own.
Explore Before The ShotStart with the free lessons
Get the free 14 day series and try the first lesson with a photograph of your own.
Start the free 14 day series